How to Burn Grass Lawn Sand Burs
Sand burs, those prickly, irritating weeds that grow on the dry fringes of your lawn, are the bane of many homeowners. They tend to have a scraggly, dry appearance, which may be why burning them seems like a good idea. Before you burn sand burs, though, consider safer options, especially if you live in a dry area. Does this Spark an idea?
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Prescribed Burns
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One recommendation for controlling sand burs is to burn your yard, which is accomplished simply by lighting dry grasses and weeds on fire in late summer or early fall. However, yard burning is illegal in many areas, due to fire restrictions, and you may ruin the lawn in the process. A prescribed burn is difficult to control and may harm structures or plants if it gets out of control. A shovel and running hose are essential to have on hand to control the fire. Prescribed burns will only control sand burs if the seeds are completely incinerated. Otherwise, the weeds will return the following year.
Flame Weeders
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Flame weeders are a less dramatic, but much safer, alternative to a prescribed burn. Flame weeders have a propane tank that produces a flame. When a sand bur weed is exposed to heat from the flame, it wilts and dies within a few days. The best time to use a flame weeder is in the spring when sand burs are young. Once the weeds start producing seeds, flame weeders are much less effective.
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Alternatives
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Sand burs are annual weeds, meaning that they die each fall and won't return unless they sprout from seed deposited in the soil the previous fall. Any treatment, including burns and flame weeders, is most effective before the plants begin to produce seed. A pre-emergent herbicide is a safe alternative to prescribed burns or flame weeders. When applied in early spring, pre-emergent herbicides can effectively prevent sand bur seeds from germinating.
Prevention
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Sand burs appear in lawns that are unhealthy and sparse. The best remedy for these and other weeds is to maintain a healthy lawn so they don't get a foothold. Grass seed planted annually to fill bare spots will form a dense mat that crowds out sand burrs, eliminating the need for burning the yard.
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